Ghana Closes Embassy in Washington D.C. Over Massive Visa Fraud Scandal
Ghana temporarily shuts down its Washington D.C. embassy after uncovering a five-year visa fraud scheme. All foreign affairs staff recalled amid ongoing investigations.
The Government of Ghana has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, D.C., and recalled all foreign affairs personnel following the discovery of a major visa and passport fraud scheme allegedly operated within the embassy.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the embassy's closure on Monday, May 26, 2025, via a post on X (formerly Twitter), citing findings from a special audit team that exposed the long-running illegal activity.
According to Minister Ablakwa, a locally hired IT staff member at the embassy created an unauthorized link on the official embassy website, which redirected unsuspecting visa and passport applicants to his private company. There, applicants were charged unapproved service fees ranging from $30 to $60.
“Ghana's embassy in Washington, D.C. shall be closed for a few days from today as we finalize the ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul,” Ablakwa stated.
Funds Routed to Private Account
Investigations revealed that the fraudulent payments collected over at least five years were funneled into a private account controlled by the staff member. The scheme operated without the knowledge or approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ghana’s Parliament, violating the Fees and Charges Act.
In response to the scandal, all Ghanaian foreign service staff stationed in Washington have been recalled to Accra for questioning and restructuring. Additionally, the embassy's IT department has been immediately dissolved.
Minister Ablakwa emphasized the Mahama administration’s strong anti-corruption stance, saying:
“President Mahama’s government will continue to uphold zero tolerance for corruption, blatant conflicts of interest, and abuse of office.”
The matter has been referred to the Attorney-General for prosecution, and a full forensic audit is underway to determine the exact financial losses incurred by the state. The Foreign Affairs Ministry assures Ghanaians that steps are being taken to restore transparency and integrity to its overseas missions.
Public Reactions and Temporary Disruptions
The sudden closure is expected to disrupt consular services, including visa and passport applications, for both Ghanaians in the U.S. and foreigners seeking to travel to Ghana. However, government officials maintain that the drastic measures are essential to cleanse and restore public confidence in Ghana’s diplomatic services.
This developing story has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many applauding the government’s decisive action while calling for tougher measures against corruption in the public sector.
